Strikeforce Post-Mortem: Women’s Rights, Lefts, Mousasi, More

It could be argued that Strikeforce’s most valuable asset isn’t
Fedor
Emelianenko, hyper-competent CEO Scott Coker, or the tremendous
access allowed by CBS/Showtime; it’s their lockdown on female mixed
competition, which has outdistanced early catcalls, derision, and
fan immaturity to become one of the most entertaining and dynamic
divisions in the sport.

For the holdouts, Saturday’s “Strikeforce: Carano vs. ‘Cyborg’” put
the defense on permanent rest. 145 lb. contenders Gina Carano
and Cristiane
“Cyborg” Santos spent some of the most torturous five minutes
in recent memory slugging, shooting, and swelling; it was Santos
who wanted it more, muscling Carano in the clinch, landing the
bigger power shots, and finally beating a grounded Carano like it
was personal with only one second left in the round. (An MIA Carano
unable to be interviewed due to medical intervention backstage
should suffocate any idea that it was a premature stoppage.)

The one regret: As a teammate wrapped a shiny women’s title around
Santos’ waist, promoters might have felt as though he were
gift-wrapping the conqueror of one of the most consistent
attention-and-money-earners of his promotion -- one who might not
attract the same kind and volume of attention.

Next for Carano: A seriously awkward
position as gatekeeper for Strikeforce’s women’s division. Or, more
likely, an immediate rematch with Santos.

Next for ‘Cyborg’: Carano by virtue of
being her physical equal: Japanese star Megumi Fuji is too small
(115 lbs.) to be a factor; new Strikeforce employee Erin
Toughill is Santos’ size, but an unknown commodity. Only
Tara
Larosa (17-1 and a barely-okay 125 lbs.) stands out as a
challenge -- and she’s signed with Bellator for a fall
tournament.

Next for Gegard
Mousasi: A lot of foot-tapping: Strikeforce’s 205 lb.
division is about as populated as Three Mile Island.

Awards

Optimism of the Night Award:Mike Kyle, for
trying to secure an armbar on two-time jiu-jitsu world champion and
2007 ADCC champion Fabricio
Werdum.

Academic Ending of the Night Award:
Werdum, for choking the optimism out of Kyle not a minute
later.

Freudian Gaffe of the Night Award:
Showtime interviewer Jenn Brown, for un-ironically referring to
Cristiane Santos as “Satan” while talking to Carano backstage.

Exhumed Body of the Night Award:Renato
Sobral, for appearing as though he was looking into another
dimension after being pounded by Mousasi.

Gender Equality of the Night Award:
Heavily-braced Frank
Shamrock, for calling the airborne Superman punch during
Santos/Carano a “Superwoman” strike.

New Questions

Will Carano’s vulnerability mean fewer tickets
sold?

You could take the position that it wasn’t women’s MMA that grew in
popularity over the past two years, but Carano’s popularity in
particular. Now that she’s been bruised, it’s unlikely the
non-English-speaking, somewhat less angelic presence of Cristiane
Santos will be a suitable replacement.

Can Strikeforce cultivate a compelling women’s
division?

Carano is a proven draw -- prior fights on CBS have attracted
millions of viewers -- but in doing so, she’s run through a solid
chunk of talent: Julie
Kedzie, Rosi Sexton,
Tonya
Evinger, Kaitlin
Young, and Kelly
Kobold. Santos has also gone on quite a run. Many of the
remaining threats -- particularly from overseas -- aren’t their
physical equal. Can you still draw if you’re fighting beneath your
level?

Is Fabricio Werdum a worthy challenge to
Emelianenko?

In dispatching Mike Kyle with efficiency, Fabricio Werdum proved
that he could -- dispatch Mike Kyle with efficiency. And not many
people needed to be convinced of it.

Werdum is a tough, talented heavyweight with solid credentials, and
it’s very possible Strikeforce’s three-fight contract with
Emelianenko will need to enlist him. Whether that’s good for box
office or just good for disappointing fans that might see Werdum as
a step backward is something worth dwelling on.

Etc.Matt
Lindland is Strikeforce’s latest acquisition…Showtime VP of
Sports Programming Ken Hershman told Yahoo that the promotion is
eyeing an October 10 debut for Emelianenko…middleweight champion
Cung Le
has made press rounds stating that he’s looking at a late fall or
winter 2010 return.

Update 08/16/09: What I get for not spending several hours a day
on YouTube: several readers informed me that Brown was not
referring to Santos, but to a viral video featuring Carano’s
conditioning coach, whom someone had dubbed “Satan.”